Portable CD MP3 Player

A review for Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5 has been posted by CNET on ther site. The player is given 7.7 out of 10. They write

The good: Supercompact and durable design; excellent sound quality; intuitive tactile interface; removable battery; stellar battery life.

The bad: No extra features, such as FM radio or recording; ATRAC3 is the only DRM option; must use SonicStage software for music transfer.

The bottom line: If you want a slick alternative to the iPod and you’re into Sony’s Connect music store, then the NW-HD5 is a stellar choice.

CNET has reviewed the Sony Walkman Bean NW-E305 and give the player and ‘Average’ rating, 5.7 out of 10. They write

The good: Excellent FM reception and battery life; retractable USB connector.

The bad: Poorly designed USB cover; awkward controls; tiny screen muddles interface; noticeable hiss during playback; music-store support limited to Sony Connect; slow file transfers.

The bottom line: Sony’s half-baked Walkman Bean tries hard to be hip, but bad design elements and hissy audio make it one square audio player.

CNET review on iRock 930 MP3ez was not in favour of the player by giving it a poor rating, 3.7 out of 10.

The good: Support for SD/MMC expansion cards; easy to use; less than $50.

The bad: Supports MP3 files only; only 128MB of built-in memory; no LCD; subpar battery life; slow USB 1.1 transfer speed; no shuffle or extended play modes.

The bottom line: The cheap and easy iRock 930 MP3ez might be a good starter MP3 player for a child, but if you’re even slightly serious about digital audio, avoid this device.

CNET editors has reviewed Cowon iAudio G2 (1GB, dark blue) and has given it 7.3 out of 10

The good: The Cowon iAudio G2 delivers great sound quality and sound-enhancement options, plays protected WMA files, and features line-in recording.

The bad: The Cowon iAudio G2 is a bit large for a flash-based player, lacks an FM tuner, and most notably, uses the slow USB 1.1 protocol for transfers.

The bottom line: The Cowon iAudio G2’s terrific audio quality and ease of use overcome its lack of USB 2.0 connectivity.

CNET has posted a review for the Sony NW-E405 Network Walkman (512MB) and gives it a ‘Very good’ rating, 7.7 out of 10.

The good: Fantastic battery life; cool and unique design; bright, easy-to-read OELD ; solid sound; gets really loud.

The bad: No FM tuner or recording features; inelegant software; must use Sony’s SonicStage software to get music onto the player.

The bottom line: If you want a beautiful-looking device with killer battery life, consider the Sony NW-E400 series.

CNET has reviewed the Sony NW-E105 Network Walkman (512MB) and gave it a ‘Very good’ rating - 7.7 out of 10

The good: Fantastic battery life; inexpensive; solid sound quality; gets really loud; innovative rocking faceplate controls.

The bad: No FM tuner or recording options; inelegant software; must use SonicStage app to transfer songs.

The bottom line: Budget-conscious music fans who want more than the Apple iPod Shuffle has to offer will be pleased with Sony’s NW-E100 flash players.

Freestyle Audio Fusion DMP 512 (512MB)

CNET.com has taken a look at Freestyle Audio Fusion DMP 512 (512MB) and in their review, they give it a ‘Good’ rating, 6.0 out of 10. They write:

The good: The light and compact Freestyle Audio Fusion DMP Waterproof MP3 Player can be fully submerged in up to 10 feet of water for use in the pool, the surf, the lake, or the mountains, and the MP3 player comes with a neoprene armband.

The bad: Unfortunately, the pricey Freestyle Audio Fusion DMP Waterproof MP3 Player suffers from poor navigation controls and horrible earbuds. Sound quality also could be better.

The bottom line: The Freestyle Audio Fusion DMP Waterproof MP3 Player makes a splash by letting you take music with you into the surf and beyond, but we’re not too stoked about the difficult control buttons, the poor headphones, and frankly, the price.